Meet the Faculty of the Business Programs

Dr. Tilokie Depoo is Dean of Business Programs and Professor of Business in the School for Business at Metropolitan College of New York.

He worked for over 25 years in the corporate sector, including a diversified professional background in international and domestic business. Dr. Depoo has extensive experience in strategic planning, venture development, financial analysis, market research, business and product development for international and domestic companies, including Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lever Brothers, the New York Daily News, NextHealth and Fidelis Care New York While working in the for profit arena, Dr. Depoo maintained close contact with academia and also has over 15 years of experience in higher education. Most recently, he served as Chairperson of the Business Administration Department at Monroe College.

As a teacher and academic administrator, Dr. Depoo has focused on developing curriculum that aligns with real world practices to better prepare students for successful careers. His teaching experience includes both on-line and on-site courses and he has pioneered numerous innovative, career-focused programs for students.

Dr. Depoo completed his undergraduate work in economics at Long Island University, and earned a master’s degree in economics at New York University. He received his Ph.D. in Global Leadership/Strategic Management from Lynn University in Florida.

In addition to his managerial and administrative accomplishments, Dr. Depoo maintains research interests in the area of international labor migration and the brain drain in third world countries. He has co-authored two books: A Practical Guide to Microeconomics (2007) and the East Indian Diaspora (1993). Additionally, he has published several articles on the brain drain including Guyana’s Brain Drain and Implications for Economics Development (2007).
Dr. Depoo serves on the National Faculty Advisory Committee of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). He led a SIFE team to six straight regional championships, and serves as a SIFE Sam Walton Fellow. His professional affiliations include the American Economic Association, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Sigma Beta Delta, and Alpha Beta Gamma.

Dr. Mohammad I. Bajwa is Professor and Program Coordinator of the BBA in Healthcare Systems Management. His teaching experience spans over 25 years in universities in the US, United Kingdom, Philippines, Iraq, and Pakistan. He has published 50 research papers in peer reviewed journals and is a sought after keynote speaker at conferences worldwide. He also holds MCSE, CPHIMSS and CPHIT certifications in the Healthcare Information Management and Technology area.

Dr. Abdulhaqq is an accomplished Human Resource Executive with over 20 years extensive experience in Employee Relations, Performance Management Programs, Executive Compensation, and Talent Acquisitions as well as a consultant to Senior Executives on all complex strategic HR issues. He has extensive experience in creating HR organizations that are innovative, results-driven and tied directly to bottom-line performance ranging from specific business re-engineering initiatives to corporate-wide recruitment, staffing and leadership development and sales growth programs. He is a Diversity Officer with the Organizational Development Network of Long Island and an active member of the National Black Masters of Business Association and the NAACP.

Pamela Abrams joined Metropolitan College of New York as an adjunct professor in 2003. Her business experience includes fourteen years at Community Health Action of Staten Island (formerly Staten Island AIDS Task Force) as Office Manager; Facility Manager and presently Associate Director of Human Resources.

Solomon Appel spent ten years in higher education before joining the full-time faculty in January of 1989. He specializes in the Systems and Skills components of the School for Business’ offerings, and served as Assistant to the Associate Dean under Associate Deans Mandel, Small, Basir, Hurd and Tinnin. In this position he counseled students, scheduled courses and assigned faculty. He has had teaching affiliations with Baruch College/CUNY graduate school and undergraduate center, Brooklyn College (CUNY) and the College of New Rochelle. He currently serves on the Faculty Life Committee, the Academic Standards Committee, and the Compliance Committee.

William C. Auden (MS, State University of New York at Stony Brook; MPA, New York University; MS/Ph.D. The Karol Adamiecki University of Economics; Ph.D, Touro University International)

A published author in his field, Dr. Auden has spent over 14 years working for banking industry. He has held different management positions in ING Bank, ABN-AMRO Bank, Vereinsbank. For the last four years his research interest concentrates on Demographic Theory of Business. Particularly, he is conducting research on how Top Management Team’s demographic composition influences firm performance. He joined the adjunct faculty at MCNY in 2004 and enjoys teaching courses in Economic Philosophy, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Research in Business.

Ms. Ayalew has previously served as Senior Analyst of Public Finance in the Global Transportation and Infrastructure department of MBIA Insurance Corporation. Additionally, she has over 9 years of experience with in the finance management, portfolio and investments management as well as credit and risk management sectors.

Rivi Biton (BS, New York University; JD, Hofstra University School of Law; Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser; CPA)

Rivi Biton is a member of the International Global Tax Analytical Group (GTAG) where she researches and builds models and accesses databases for the computation and analysis of Foreign Tax Credits, Extraterritorial Taxable Income, FAS 109 deferred tax assets and liabilities, FIN 48, as well as depreciation calculations for corporations and their subsidiaries. She also advises on complex tax transactions, the application, and impact on individuals, partnerships, and corporations as well as on asset allocation, 401(k), tax implications, severance packages, and retirement funding.

Andrew Borsen (BA, Boston University; J.D., New England Law School)

Andrew Borsen is a partner in boutique commercial litigation and corporate transaction law firm representing clients ranging from small closely held corporations to large multimillion dollar companies in commercial litigation, corporate transaction and international law. Represent clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts in commercial disputes, structures and negotiates large international deals and acts as general counsel to a number of large international and small privately held companies and ensure that their legal needs are addressed consistent with their business objectives.

Lalita Brockington joined Metropolitan College of New York in 2004 as an adjunct professor in the School of Business. In her twenty years of teaching experience in secondary and higher education, she has taught in the fields of education, business and law.

Her business experience includes advising small business owners and budding entrepreneurs with Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) and assisting in the AARP Foundation Money Management Program. Her legal experience as an attorney includes working as a mediator and arbitrator for a number of organizations and agencies (Small Claims Court, BBB, NASD and others). She has also developed seminars for prospective law school students.

Kevin Brotz is a member of the Bar of the State of New Jersey, and for 24 years successfully represented and advocated the legal interests of individuals, business entities, and the State of New Jersey in a wide variety of substantial civil and criminal litigation matters. In addition, Professor Brotz has extensive experience in risk analysis and strategy, insurance policy interpretation and coverage disputes, negotiation, arbitration and mediation, business development and business communications. He was also in government service as an Assistant Prosecutor.

Professor Brotz designed and taught an original in-house legal education program at his law firm; was an invited lecturer and classroom instructor for various legal topics; instructed and trained business clients' employees; and mentored other professionals.

Howard Bullard joined Metropolitan College of New York in 2004 and has held the title of adjunct instructor. In his 17 years of teaching experience, he has been a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa, an English instructor in Brazil, and taught in the New York City public school system as a Peace Corps Fellows. Throughout this time he has maintained teaching affiliations with the College of New Rochelle, Borough of Manhattan Community College, and Touro College. Also, he travels extensively between Brazil and Europe participating in Peace Education and Human Rights seminars. His business experiences include working for General Dynamics, real estate, and life insurance.

Dr. Chiang is an experienced product manager and service developer with strong skills in application software, system engineering, network technologies, business processes, and the realization process to implement application services. He has extensive experience in leading the operational development efforts for several key application based services encompassing coordination of the sales support, provisioning, delivery, billing and service assurance teams. He has also successfully implemented and managed several early content management service offers. He is committed to stimulating student interest on basic couplings between business operations and emerging technologies and on how to bridge the gaps from business and application needs to technology and implementation practices to enable business personnel to appreciate the value of technology in a layman point of view.

Mohammed S. Chowdhury (D.B.A., Nova Southeastern University)

Dr. Chowdhury co-authored a textbook, Principles of Microeconomics, published by Prentice Hall. He has over 27 years of professional and academic experience in the areas of marketing, management, economics, business statistics and finance. He has also published several articles in various journals.

Maria Luisa Contreras (BBA, College of the Sacred Heart of Puerto Rico; J.D. University of Puerto Rico Law School)

Inspired by her father who was a successful businessman, Maria Contreras clerked for a United States Bankruptcy Judge after graduation from law school and found this area of the law the perfect combination between law and business. Former head of the Bankruptcy Committee of the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group, she is certified by the American Bankruptcy Board of Certification (ABBC) in Business Bankruptcy and was designated as a Certified Fraud Examiner by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners in Austin, Texas. Professor Contreras is also the author of Conceptos Generales de la Ley de Quiebra,(1st, 2nd and 3rd Editions) on the basic concepts of Bankruptcy Law which is used as a companion text in Puerto Rico law schools.

During her career she has participated as a panelist in numerous seminars sponsored by the United States Trustee Office, the Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Bar and the National Business Institute. Professor Contreras is a member of the American Bar Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, New York State Bar Association and other professional organizations

Minal Patel Davis (BA, New York University; JD/MBA, University of Connecticut Law School)

Minal Patel Davis was born and raised in New York City and has lived in Fort Greene, Brooklyn with her husband since 2006. After law and business school she was a senior tax consultant at Ernst and Young, a litigation associate at a law firm and went on to own a small risk management and business consulting practice. Beyond her adjunct teaching duties, she spends much of her free time serving as Financial Secretary of Open Heavens Ministries. She is also Co-Chair of the Committee for the Future at The New York Women’s Foundation, which was recognized by The Manhattan Young Democrats for engendering change for women and girls. She has also previously served on the Steering Committee for the Celebrating Women Breakfast and the Grants Advisory Committee at The New York Women’s Foundation.

A native of the Republic of Sierra Leone, James Fawundu draws upon his experience as Financial Comptroller of Local 840 IBT Union Fund and Asset Management Consultant to the Federated Pension Bureau to bring practical experience to his teaching. He has an extensive background teaching Business Administration at Katherine Gibbs College, Bramson ORT College and as an adjunct at MCNY.

His motto is "Do good if you can, but do not do bad because you cannot do ‘good’." He believes that teaching is a good and glorious profession; teaching how Professor Fawundu is doing ‘good’.

Gerson Gibbs (BS, SUNY-Albany; MBA Media Management, MCNY)

Gerson Gibbs has over seven years experience as a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Examiner, responsible for oversight and review of brokers and dealers for compliance with FINRA, SEC and MSRB rules relating to accounting, trading and market making, sales practices and Anti-Money Laundering requirements. He alsoprovides consulting services toassist broker dealers with all regulatory compliance and concerns. Gerson Gibbs is also the owner of his own independent record label and recording studio located in Brooklyn New York.

David Hahn teaches an online section of “Principles of Management” in the undergraduate business degree program. He brings to this assignment over thirty years of supervisory and project management experience in the financial services, retail and higher education sectors. He currently serves as an executive academic administrator in the college’s School for Business, supporting Dean Humphrey Crookendale, and has led international field study programs for its Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) students in France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Israel.

Bernard Jackson is working toward combining his twenty years of legal experience with the filmmaking skills he acquired at Boston University to develop and produce various entertainment content. He has extensive experience in the negotiation and drafting of contracts relating to entertainment and media business transactions and was formerly counsel in the New York office of the Dewey & LeBoeuf Entertainment and Media Group, where he worked with many celebrities, including Rosie O’Donnell, Lil Kim, Mos Def, Harlem Globetrotters and the late Michael Jackson, often performing additional tasks beyond his legal role including album/music video/television and motion picture production budgeting, production co-ordination, talent procurement as well as drafting and editing television/film treatments and scripts. His diverse experience encompasses new media, music, film, television (broadcast and cable), and branded entertainment, book publishing and live performances.

Mr. Jackson has previously lent his legal and business expertise as a partner of JDW Entertainment, Inc., a music production company that had a record distribution arrangement with RCA Records and was one of the executives of the management team for several recording artists signed to major labels including multi-platinum recording artist Mary J. Blige.

Mitchell S. Janewicz (BS St. Francis College, MBA, Wagner College)

Mitchell Janewicz joined the business department as an adjunct instructor in 2000. Since then he has instructed numerous business courses, not only at the main MCNY campus but also at the former campuses in the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Since 1987 Mr. Janewicz has instructed business courses at local colleges including LIM College, Katharine Gibbs School and the American Institute of Banking. As deputy director of business development for St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corp. he instructed a series of ten-week courses in small business management. His professional background includes more than twenty-five years of banking experience.

He held management positions in banking operations, mortgage lending, and marketing with American Savings Bank, Dime Savings Bank, and the Williamsburg Savings Bank. He also held consulting positions with Bank America, Chase Bank and NatWest Bank.

Artie Khan (BS, New York Institute of Technology; MBA, New York Institute of Technology)

Professor Khan has spent over 25 years working on developing information systems for business and education. For the last 22 years, he has been working at the New York City Department of Education where he has been involved in the development and implementation of systems for business and student record management. He joined the adjunct faculty at MCNY in 2003 and enjoys teaching courses in business management and computer applications.

Paula Landry (BA, Ithaca College; MBA Media Management, MCNY)

Paula Landry is a producer of film, music and television. She has worked for Pearson Television, The Odyssey Channel, G&H Media, FIT TV, The American Health and Fitness Show, CutTime Productions, Northwood Productions and on the recent Craig Armstrong music video "Wake Up in NY". Recent projects include: producer of the TV and radio projects for the 2002 Tom Golisano NY Gubernatorial campaign as well as collaborator on "Neptune and Chuck," a digital comedy series. Films she has worked on have debuted at the Sundance Festival, winning awards from Columbia Pictures Screen Gems, The Time Warner Showtime Audience Awards, and the Grand Jury Award at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. Professor Landry works as a consultant for the WBDance Theater of NYC, the Higher Arts Forum in Sarasota, Florida and NewMusicNewYork, a multimedia chamber ensemble.

She is also a professional flutist who has has performed at Radio France in Paris, for King Hussein in Jordan, making guest appearances with the Gulbenkian Orchestra. She is the author with Steven Greenwald of The Economics of the Film Industry.

Christopher Lanzaro (BS, MBA, St. John’s University)

Professor Lanzaro has over 15 years experience as a senior levelController with a strong history of success in the technology, internet, media, software and financial services industries. He also has exemplary skill at recruiting, training and mentoring all levels of staff for accounting, operations, IT and HR functions. With his extensive experience in international consolidations and intercompany accounting reconciliations, regulatory reporting, financial statements and analyses, detailed budgets/forecasts for multi-divisional organizations, treasury and cash management functions, and directing due diligence analysis for acquisitions and financing, Professor Lanzaro provides his students with a comprehensive dynamic overview and understanding of accounting, finance and operational aspects of business from a local, national, international and global perspective.

Ralph Leal's career has encompassed both business and higher education in the United States and overseas. He served as Vice President of HSBC Asset Management Americas, with responsibilities for both domestic and international investments' portfolios. He is a certified financial planner and holds New York State licenses in both insurance and investments. Dean Leal's academic career includes appointment as Associate Professor in the MBA program of the C.W. Post Center of Long Island University. He has also served on the faculties of St. John's University, where he was Director of the Latin American Area Studies Program and Adjunct Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at the State University Colleges at Farmingdale and Old Westbury, Nassau Community College and New York University.

Before his "retirement" Steven Levine owned his own business, and served in various management positions in the business operations area for over 30 years. His extensive successful entrepreneurial experience provides him a unique real world insight into the day to day operational, financial and management needs and obligations of a successful small business owner. This experience affords him an exceptional advantage in teaching business students the practical applications of theories they learn in class.

Barbara Madori (BS, Fordham University; MBA, CUNY)

Barbara Madori is a Senior Account Executive for a major Advertising Agency in NYC. She has been in the advertising industry for over 15 years managing accounts in the telecommunications, financial and pharmaceutical area, leading several teams in awarding winning creative projects. Professor Madori is also a certified NYS Court Evaluator for Guardianship proceedings.

Matthew Mecs has over 16 years of marketing experience in planning, buying, and selling for traditional television and radio broadcast and digital media and extensive experience in Internet and social media marketing campaigns. In addition to his marketing sales duties, Professor Mecs has extensive experience training and supervising new marketing and sales account executives. He has consistently been named #1 Salesperson for four out of the last five years with over 20 million dollars in sales.

Richard J. Monahan (BS, United States Merchant Marine Academy; MS, State University of New York; PhD, Pace University)

Dr. Monahan's business career spans 25 years of diversified experience in transportation, energy and health care in the areas of marketing, finance and planning. During his career, he has traveled internationally to over 31 countries. He is presently a manager of administrative services for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York. He joined the adjunct faculty of MCNY in 2003.

Vincent Munch (MS, Pratt Institute)

Vincent Munch has been associated with the MCNY since 2002, first as Coordinator of Information Literacy from 2002-2005 drawing upon his master's in Library Science and then as an Instructor. Since 2008, I have taught Business Math, Human Resources Management, Organizational Psychology, Mass Media and various CA classes. Most recently, I have a Purpose 2 Working With Groups, Computer Management and Mass Media.

Emerson S. Nobbee
(BA, Baruch College; MBA, St. John’s University)

Emerson Nobbee is a Certificate Public Accountant licensed in New York State and a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Professor Nobbee has taught at NYU Continuing Studies as well as the City University of New York. Professor Nobbee has worked in Public Accounting, Internal Audit and private accounting for the past 22 years. Professor Nobbee currently works as an AVP for Wells Fargo Century performing internal audits on various companies.

Mary Ann Ortiz
(BA, MPA, Metropolitan College of New York)

Ms. Ortiz is the Administrator of the Office of the Dean of Human Services as well as the Project Coordinator of the Title V Grant program. Prior to working at Metropolitan College of New York, Ms. Ortiz was a manager for Chemical Bank/JP Morgan Chase in charge of the Import/ Export Letter of Credit Department. Ms. Ortiz left banking and became a Manager in the Health Care Management Industry. She has certifications in Medical Billing and Terminology, and from the New York Institute of Banking.

Michael Pastena is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Empowerment Coach with more than thirty years of experience in the financial services industry. A former finance and operations principal and holder of a Series 6, 6.3, Mr. Pastena is the founder of MCP Services, a corporate training, consulting, coaching, and tutoring organization where he trains staff of asset management firms and consults with investment managers, software vendors and international accounting firms on a variety of infrastructure matters (middle office, back office, operations) with a heavy concentration on performance measurement and portfolio analysis issues. Mr. Pastena also serves as a non-public arbitrator for FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). He co-founded Advisors’ Education Group, Inc. (AEG), a company that provided training for the staff of investment advisory firms. Prior to co-founding AEG he was a Principal and the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of an institutional investment management firm in New York City where he was responsible for portfolio administration and accounting, performance measurement and portfolio analysis, compliance, information technology, human resources, strategic planning, new business development, finance and accounting.

He is a member of the AICPA and New York State Society of CPA’s, sits on the advisory boards of PAICR and MCNY’s MBA/Business program he is also a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and participates in Baruch College’s Executives on Campus Program as a mentor. He has written numerous of articles about performance measurement and has spoken at numerous conferences on the subject. In addition to his adjunct teaching duties at MCNY, he is also on the Adjunct faculty of Baruch College in NYC.

Roslyn Patterson (BA, University of Missouri; MBA, Baker University)

In addition to her teaching duties, Roslyn Patterson leads Novartis Corporation Brand and Corporate Reputation efforts in the United States and is responsible for the Novartis US Foundation. Prior to joining MCNY and Novartis, Roslyn was Vice President and Managing Director for UniWorld Health, a division of Uniworld Group, Inc., where she was responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the business unit. In addition to her duties as the business lead for the healthcare division, she was responsible for UniWorld Group’s business development.

Prior to her work at UniWorld, Professor Patterson served in a variety of managerial marketing capacities at MCS Public Relations, Fleishman Hillard, Ketchum and FischerHealth. In addition, she was president of Golden Communications, a boutique firm that specialized in business-to-business, education, and healthcare communications where her clients included companies from the telecommunications and insurance industries as well as the nonprofit sector.

Glenda Perreira is a systems analyst with Infocrossing/Wipro, New York, NY. She works in software development, training and implementation of a billing and payroll system designed for NY City’s Human Resources Administration’s multi-million dollar home care systems. Professor Perreira has also taught Management and Information Systems at various technical schools and colleges in New York City. Since working on her doctoral studies in Leadership and Organizational Change, she has teamed with other noted educators and professionals and is working with Family Renaissance, a not-for-profit organization that runs the rites of passage program for young men and women in Brooklyn, developing training and workshops to assist with providing necessary developmental skills and tools for young adults.

Vincent Presti is an attorney and co-founder of I Wanna Be On, Inc., a multi-media production company that has a first look deal with CBS to develop reality programming. Prior to his entertainment and corporate litigation practice, Vincent was the former Director, Business Operations at Roundabout Theatre Company where he developed cross-platform concepts between theatre, television and music, including pitching the first, reality-based Broadway-theme concept to CAA, seeking American Idol talent for Broadway productions, and encouraging Las Vegas business interest in co-venturing in Broadway productions. Vincent has also counseled leading internet companies during the course of his legal career in Silicon Valley at Wilson Sonsini. He is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the IFP, and the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Matt Posner (BA, New College of Florida; MFA, University of Alabama; MA, Florida State University; St. John's University; English 7-12 certified public school teacher; practiced special educator)

Professor Posner is a published writer of fiction and nonfiction who joined the MCNY adjunct faculty in 2004. His teaching career also includes terms at Touro College, Miami International University of Art and Design, Florida International University, and University of Alabama. He is also an experienced high school teacher who currently works at New Utrecht High School in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Professor Posner is known for his eclectic and student-friendly teaching style. His interests include literature, politics, history, movies and photo retouching.

David J. Rosner (BA Vassar College, MA, Ph.D. Brown University)

Dr. Rosner is an Assistant Professor in the MCNY School for Business. He primarily teaches courses in the Values/Ethics dimension, and has also recently been involved in programmatic assessment initiatives within the business curriculum, specifically with regard to the Purpose Centered Education model. Prof. Rosner is currently writing a book on the crisis of values in the post-modern world.

Since retiring from banking after 30+ years in the finance industry, in supporting and managerial roles in Domestic and International Custody businesses, dedicates much of her passion to her students and teaching duties as an adjunct at Metropolitan College of New York. Her expertise includes Finance courses in Money and Banking and Financial Planning and Management, as well as introductory Economics and Finance courses. Her approach to teaching embraces the combination of theory and application so as to convey to her students the full understanding of the workings of the economy in everyday life.

Michael Scagnoli has been an adjunct faculty member of Metropolitan College of New York since January of 2002. In addition to teaching, he also serves as Office and Production Manager for The New York Collegium, Inc., a performing arts organization specializing in baroque period music. Professor Scagnoli is also a weekly entertainment columnist and film critic for CNH1 Media. His most recent honors and awards include: Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian at MCNY, Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award Recipient and Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society.

Professor Sepulveda is a certified Major League Baseball agent and presently works at Ciro Mederos & Associates. He previously has worked for the New Jersey Nets and the New York Board of Education. He is the former president of Integrity Sports Group, LLC who grew to represent five players in the major leagues. Professor Sepulveda also teaches at Kean University.

Sheldon L. Shrenkel (BA, Hunter College; MBA, Adelphi University)

Sheldon L. Shrenkel has over thirty years experience in the finance industry. As Director of Operations, and District manager for Chrysler Capital Corporation his responsibilities included managing the NY District, marketing, credit and collections, managing an audit staff, overseeing loan workouts, management of loan portfolios, and mergers and acquisitions of complex problem accounts. Currently, he is a consultant to small and middle market companies. Also, he consults and provides services to banks, finance companies, turnaround firms, and law firms. He has been a guest lecturer, numerous times, at NYU for the course, Starting Your own Business. He has lectured at several major banks on the topics of alternative financing, motivation, and marketing.

Hoi-Ming So is currently an Adjunct Professor for State University of New York, Empire College and a full time Instructor/ Transportation manager for New Jersey Transit's Operational Training Department. Professor So was also the Acting Dean for Taylor Business College. He taught at City University of New York, Baruch College, Continuing Studies Department. He retired from the N.Y.P.D as a community affairs officer. He was also assigned to the N.Y.C. Transit Police as an Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator and advocate in the Transit Police Legal Bureau. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D in General Psychology.

Dr. Soobrian is a highly successful, results-oriented, and versatile executive with extensive teaching and practical experience and expertise in corporate finance, economics, management, international business, project management, product management, marketing and strategic planning. He has advised several Governments and Chambers of Commerce on International trade, business, and technology transfer and development. In addition, Dr. Soobrian has developed position papers on finance and economics for presentations at FCC hearings and investment bankers’ meetings and has managed over $2 billion in assets and improved profitability of several product lines.

Manolin Tirado (BA, Columbia University; MA, Brooklyn College/CUNY)

Manolin "Manny" Tirado has over twenty years of public administration experience with several city and state agencies. His areas of specialty include economic development, transportation planning and electoral politics. Professor Tirado has also worked as a political consultant for several city and state elected officials including the Bronx Borough President, Adolfo Carrion. Currently, Professor Tirado is a Transportation Planner for MTA New York City Transit and serves as Treasurer of the Northern Manhattan Economic Development Corp.

Professor Tirado joined the School of Business faculty in January 2002 and has taught courses in American Government and Political Philosophy. He is also an adjunct professor of political science at Brooklyn College since 1997.

Amitai Touval, PhD (BA, Bowdoin College; PhD, Brown University)

Dr. Touval is a cultural anthropologist and associate at ITAP International, a global consulting firm offering HR and OD services. Prof. Touval has developed assessments, interventions, and curricula in business ethics, finance, and cross cultural communication for Fortune 500 companies. He has published papers and articles on the intersection of business ethics and culture, organization development, and cultural anthropology. At MCNY, he encourages students to apply the concepts that they learn in class to their work experience, including work-related challenges.

For more than 25 years, first as an entertainment attorney and now as a media and entertainment industry consultant, Kristie Velasco has worked with a myriad of artists across most of the media industries. In the music industry, she has worked with recording artists in various capacities, and has extensive experience in genres ranging from Salsa, and Latin Jazz, to R&B, Rap and Hip Hop, and even Spoken Word. Working with artists like Emmy™ Award winner Felipe Luciano, among others, she has also advised and collaborated on the development and production of television and radio shows, as well as managed television and recording artists and songwriters. Ms. Velasco also has extensive experience producing and organizing special events within the New York City Latino, African American and youth communities, including the 1st New York Inner City Games Opening Ceremony, various events in connection with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and even the Mayor's Welcome Celebration for President Nelson Mandela.

In addition to her media and entertainment experience, Ms. Velasco has previously served as Interim District Director for Congressman Major R. Owens and during the Giuliani Administration provided Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra executive, political and legal advice on a myriad of education and human services issues under her purview, as well as all issues involving Latino constituencies in NYC. Throughout it all she has maintained a consistent focus on and commitment to providing a voice to those who are underrepresented or misrepresented in the media, using her knowledge and skills to foster inclusiveness and diversity in the messages and operations of today’s media.

Mark Wald (BS, SUNY Buffalo; MS, University of Arizona; JD, California Western School of Law)

Since the founding of his athletic brand with his partner in 1993, Mark Wald has been the Executive Vice President and General Counsel to Game Over, Inc. (www.gameovernyc.com). With his assistance the brand has grown from a regional to national concern, from an athletic wear company to a Multimedia corporation that controls various trademarks in numerous international categories. Partnerships have been built to include such important companies as McDonald's, the Madison Square Garden Cable Network, and the New York Knicks. Among his many duties he also oversees the raising of venture capital for the growing corporation; marketing of all of its branded items; working with its Licensing company on the development of the brand as well as licensing opportunities in the USA and abroad. Prior to the creation of his company, he has been a member of the Sports Lawyers Association, interned with the general counsel of the (then) Los Angeles Raiders, and a college basketball coach at Pima College, in Tucson, Arizona.

Keith Weissman is a fundamental research analyst at Sibilla Capital, a global macro hedge fund. He has more than 14 years of experience in equity research and M&A, having held positions at Salomon Brothers, ING Barings, AGM Partners, and Calyon Securites. In addition, he is a CFA charter holder, a CPA license holder and an instructor for Becker Professional Review for the CFA and CPA review programs.

Dr. Yager is a Professor at the School for Business of Metropolitan College of New York as well as Program Coordinator where she develops and manages the General Management and Financial Services MBA Programs. Dr. Yager is on the program committee of the IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence for Financial Engineering and Economics, and she had served in the World Wide Web consortium (W3C) advisory committee. She is knowledgeable in external partnerships and international collaborative efforts, including European Commission research consortium, emerging markets and Asia economic growth projects. She had also taught at City University as an Assistant Professor in the computer science department.

Dr. Yager is multilingual and fluent in English, Chinese and French. Dr. Yager had held management positions directing Internet strategies and delivered client services for Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, and Ernst & Young. She specializes in developing business strategies for financial services using emerging technologies in computational intelligence, knowledge engineering, and business analytics. She has been an advisor to Fortune 100 senior executives in emerging technologies and new product R&D, helping companies to accelerate technology transfer from leading research and academic institutions.

Dr. Richard Zalman is involved in the NYC Department of Education's initiative to establish small learning communities in Career and Technical Education. He is an expert in adult literacy education (having founded the first Adult Reading Academy for the US Office of Education thirty years ago) and in modern Human Resource Management. In 1988 he was named an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow by MIT. Professor Zalman is also a Certified Compensation Professional from the World-At-Work Institute and a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Society for Human Resource Management Institute.